I always wanted to take up a contraceptive method, but the myths were too scary, but now I am better informed!

The powerful role of using existing community structures for targeting audiences and sustaining sexual and reproductive health programming is undisputed. Under the Women, Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (WAY) programme, Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLAs) have demonstrated remarkable dividends and transformation for the girls and young women in the groups.

In the heart of Pauni village, Madi Okollo district, vibrant Diana Ikoru shares her journey as a member of such a saving group and the opportunity the group gave her to decide over her own body. 

As a young woman, Diana says that the need for financial freedom ranked highest on her list, not because it is what she needed most, but because she was not aware of the importance of owning her sexual life and rights.

“At first a local leader called for a meeting and told us about the WAY programme. He introduced us to an agent from Okello Youth Saving Group and they said they would guide us on next steps,” says Diana. She continues, “Later, the agent came back and the agent came back to identify some out of school vulnerable girls to form a group to access the benefits under the programme…about 5 girls welcomed the idea, including myself.”

Little by little, the number of girls grew to 25. The agent held health sessions with the girls and young women on several issues including contraceptive methods and myths, sexually transmitted diseases, prevention of violence, financial saving and income generation, and simple business management and life skills. 

“I always wanted to take up a contraceptive method, but the myths were too scary, but now I am better informed,” says another club member. Diana said that after 6 months, members decided that they needed to start saving. All club members engaged in communal garden work to generate money which they then pooled.

Diana began a pancake business. “I was among the first people to borrow money since the pancakes were selling like hot cakes,'' says Diana. She borrowed 50,000 UGX and used it to make pancakes. Now, she makes up to 28,000 UGX daily. For a girl in Madi Okollo, Diana is successful.

And most importantly, she has control over her sexual health and that means she can grow her business even bigger without worry of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or having unplanned children. She says,

“Am very grateful to the WAY programme and our agent for not giving up on us and will continue to share the information I received to strengthen other girls who are not members but vulnerable, ” Diana concludes.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) implemented the WAY programme in 11 districts [Adjumani, Agago, Amuru, Arua, Madi-Okollo, Kitgum, Lamwo, Moyo, Obongi, Terego and Yumbe] in Uganda from 2018 to 2023. The programme aimed at empowering women and young people in Northern Uganda, including refugees, to contribute to their own and their communities’ development through an integrated approach to gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence services and socio-economic empowerment.

The programme was funded by the Embassy of Denmark in Uganda and implemented by UNFPA in partnership with implementing partners namely: CARE International in Uganda, Marie Stopes Uganda, Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU), Outbox as a service provider on innovations, and strategic partners at national level including Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development.

The programme focused on those most left behind, especially refugee women and young girls. In 2023, more than 3,641 refugee women and girls were supported across the 46 safe spaces. Similarly, 1,840 refugee women and girls were trained in various trade skills such as tailoring, beading, and weaving to upscale the profitability of their businesses to further reduce their risks of GBV and enhance their overall empowerment.

This impact that WAY brought to the West Nile and Acholi regions is tremendous, and the lessons from the success of this project are being used in the design and implementation of a follow on programme, the SAY-[Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Empowerment and Rights Programme 2024 – 2027].  The new programme gives both The Embassy of Denmark in Uganda and UNFPA an opportunity to reach the most vulnerable of Uganda's population with even more youth focussed and targeted interventions.